Chapter Fourteen: Before the Dark Night

  What are the Three Articles of Association? They are a kind of guarantee that Junkers demand from the National Socialist Party for their position security.

  The treaty explicitly guaranteed the orthodox status of the National Defense Army, which is an independent group that only accepts orders from the General Command and has the right to refuse unreasonable requests from the government. What is called unreasonable refers to harmful commands to the country will be directly ignored!

  Secondly, Hitler must keep his promise to secure living space for the nation, improve the domestic economy, control unemployment and arrange a job for most people as soon as possible.

  This is a nearly harsh law, in the case of economic downturn, how to control the number of unemployed people? Oh my god, this is simply an unsolvable problem. And that's why there is a third law.

  Thirdly, the National Socialist Party should give preferential policies to traditional factories, guarantee the development of industry of this nation, provide appropriate financial assistance and convenience in transportation.

  Industry needs to be developed, people get jobs, in modern terms, make money together for the same purpose: Revival!

  ……

  At this time, Lao Xi was worried about something.

  R?hm stormed into Hitler's office, slamming his fist on the desk and shouting: "Adolf, you once promised that one day we [the SA] would take the place of the Reichswehr. You lied!"

  Hitler was signing important documents without raising his head, "I heard that your troops used my portrait as a shooting target during marksmanship training?"

  Rom was almost knocked out by his own saliva, and his momentum suddenly went down. "Adolf, you can't do that. You promised me that one day we will win."

  Hitler held a pen 'swish swish swish' and didn't know what he was writing, "This thing, I will forget."

  Romm did not abandon his claims, "Adolf, and I'm telling you... are you deceiving those noble pigs? This isn't true. Are you misleading them? I absolutely won't let my shock troops turn into that damned reserve depot!"

  Hitler finally lifted his head and said in a gentle tone: "Stern, I need you to do something for me."

  Hitler handed a document from the table to R?hm, who stood up and paced back and forth in the office with an ominous scowl.

  R?hm finished reading the documents half an hour later, closed the folder and a smile reappeared on his face. He walked over to hug Hitler, "Adolf, I knew you still firmly support us (the SA), great! With August Wilhelm's joining, we (the SA) will get more support!"

  Hitler forced a smile, "I won't give you up, my Rommel, we are comrades-in-arms and should be more united."

  "Yes! It should be like that!" Rom was in a very good mood, he didn't mind expressing his loyalty again, and gave a powerful salute with a raised hand, then left happily.

  Hitler expressionlessly watched Rom's back disappear at the gate, he walked back to his desk and pulled out a file from the drawer. The folder was labeled 'Project Sanctuary West'.

  Lao Xi is going to take action against the Stormtroopers, this is his deal with the National Defense Army.

  ……

  Leeb brought a battalion of the 7th Division to the Junker military school. As von Brauchitsch said, General Leeb temporarily ignored the management of the entire military district and came here with excitement, bringing a battalion, his purpose was to see the genius of the Stosstrupp family.

  The person who received Leeb was Eugen, a direct subordinate of von Brauchitsch or an "undercover agent" assigned to the War Academy; Eugen had received direct orders from von Brauchitsch to stop at all costs this idiot Leeb from embezzling the army's property.

  The luxury of equipment brought by Leb was beyond the expectation of von Seckendorff, the whole regiment was equipped with StG 1928 modified automatic rifles, and even four Rheinmetall 3.4 cm Pak L/46 guns in the experimental stage were also equipped!

  Leroux still considered himself a student of von Secktor, and he was extremely respectful in the presence of this venerable old general. "At your service!"

  Feng Xiket received Leb in his office, he stood up and walked towards Leb, "You are also a general now, great!"

  Leroux looked very constrained and said: "Completely in line with your requirements, I brought a reinforced chain."

  "Are you here to show respect by coming in person?" Von Westericht asked. Before Leb could respond, he said seriously, "I received a call from Braunschweig, and he told me the purpose of your visit."

  Leb's cold sweat came out, and among them was his lifelong fear, Feng Xike. This serious old general was furious, no matter if you were a lieutenant general or not, it was possible to make you run back and forth on the playground for dozens of laps with your upper body naked. He explained: "Your Excellency! I just want to talk to Little Stardust, there are some questions that must be answered. Also, I received a direct order from the General Command, leading a battalion here to wait for further orders."

  "A whole camp?" von Secktor's brow furrowed noticeably. "There isn't enough food here to support a camp. What do you plan on doing?"

  Leb's expression was somewhat embarrassed. According to the procedure, he couldn't say the order out loud. This was a secret operation of the General Staff. If it was accidentally leaked, he would become a criminal in Germany.

  Feng Xike is actually a kind and gentle elder, but due to work requirements, he gives people the impression of being unapproachable, rigid, and strict. "Very good."

  Leb was taken aback for a moment, his face filled with gratitude. He changed the subject: "Your Excellency! When will the confrontation exercise begin? Is Kahn studying now? Where is he?"

  Feng Xike didn't answer, he pointed outside.

  Lebu looked out and saw only a robust young man running in the playground. Under the scorching sun, the young man repeated the action of lifting his right foot, swinging his right arm, stretching his five fingers and closing them with the armed belt, holding his left hand on the waistband, and then kicking the toe of his regular step under the assistant's loud shout.

  It was clear that Leeb knew it was a physical punishment, and he found it hard to believe, asking: "Is this the same Kahn von Strau?enburg, the genius who caused such a stir in the decisions of the High Command? The one the Training Bureau is so eager to get?"

  Feng Xike nodded almost helplessly, "This detestable little brat, he's stupid to the extreme! Why can't he ever learn to walk properly!!!" By the end, he was already bellowing...

  Xu Yang made an effort to follow the assistant's instructions, and he could clearly feel the discomfort of his clothes sticking to his skin from behind. The strange feeling of sweat and clothes sticking together was not unfamiliar to him. In the eyes of many people, he was a child with a head full of weird ideas, with a very obvious difference from traditional German children. It seemed that this kind of rebelliousness was born with him. It's not that Germans can't accept new ideas, but rather that unique and obvious challenges make some people feel surprised.

  Dare to challenge the old ideas, must be self-improvement, can not leave any flaws, in order to have persuasive power. Xu Yang is not a god, he understands everything, but his knowledge has surpassed this era and has an advantage in debating with others. He often expresses his opinions on some training subjects thought up by Feng Weixue, believing that the old-style training can no longer meet the needs of future wars. Of course, it is necessary to come up with reliable and well-founded theories.

  Von Manstein was absolutely a general who devoted himself to the country. He opposed in words, but handed over some theories that he thought were feasible to the General Staff of the National Defense Army, giving decision-making power to the state. Some fanciful theories, Von Manstein even made modifications, this general who seemed unfeeling on the surface, was doing it quietly, his mouth would not say it, he was a man of action!

  Xu Yang has ideas, but he lacks experience. The phrase "paper tiger" is very suitable to describe some current theories. Firepower brigade? This concept was applied to the military during World War I and was affirmed. Von Siegert thinks Xu Yang's idea of strengthening firepower is based on this concept, without clearly pointing out the defects and how to improve them.

  Replacing the army with advantageous weapons requires too many conditions. Under current German conditions, two advanced infantry regiments are already the limit. One regiment equipped with fully automatic rifles would require expenditure of resources that are already scarce and would further burden the national economy; the ratio of cost to benefit is too disproportionate, this idea will not be accepted.

  Feng Weixi thought that selecting a few elite troops to strengthen the camp or company in this way might not be bad. This method can verify whether the theory is correct without consuming too many resources, and it does not conflict with the current military budget of the National Defense Army. Most importantly, it will not increase the country's economic burden.

  In the next few years, a large number of active-duty military personnel will retire from the National Defense Army. What the General Headquarters needs now is to reserve officers for the National Defense Army, which also silently allows the establishment of the Military Academy for Young Sprouts. As usual, except for the Training Bureau of the National Defense Army, any military organization, training base, or military school belongs to illegal behavior!

  Junker and the National Defense Army are two in one, under the suggestion of the cunning fat man - Bodelrich, the headquarters thinks that the name "Club" is very suitable. The pressure on the National Defense Army was too great, if there was no new blood to join, it would slowly lose its vitality and become a mere shell!

  The defense forces have recently obtained a guarantee of status in the negotiations with the National Socialist Party, but after all, the National Socialist Party cannot be said to have won the election with certainty. All this carries too many uncertain factors, and the differences between the defense forces and the National Socialist Party will not be resolved by negotiation, at least until the stormtroopers are settled, they still stand on opposite sides.

  In the eyes of many, the SA was a homosexual club and many people were disgusted by R?hm's decadent behavior. G?ring, Himmler and others wanted to get rid of R?hm. G?ring was the first commander-in-chief of the SA and thought he had more seniority and ability within the party than R?hm, so how could he be under R?hm? Himmler hoped to greatly expand the power of the SS, and R?hm's SA was a thorn in his side. Among the bigwigs in the party, only Goebbels was relatively sympathetic to R?hm, but Goebbels was an opportunist who would not stand up for R?hm at critical moments.

  When Rohm found out that Hitler had become violent and coarse after part of the deal with the Defence Force, he repeatedly insulted Hitler in public, thinking that Hitler had lost his essence.

  R?hm to the diplomat Ludwig, "Adolf is no longer in a position to deal with me as he used to. I have several million storm troopers at my disposal and all key positions are occupied by my people. Adolf knows that I also have friends in the Reichswehr. If Adolf wants to talk things over, we can do it calmly. Otherwise, I'll take action myself! Not for my own sake but for the revolution!"

  R?hm went further, indulging in unrestrained language at a dinner party with his closest associates: "Adolf is going to betray us all. He's only interested in those old reactionary generals... Adolf was my pupil, he learned everything from me... Unfortunately, Adolf is still a civilian, a scribbler, an ideologue, a petit-bourgeois."

  G?ring's secret police reported all these utterances verbatim to Hitler, and so the die was cast, the fate of the SA was sealed.

  Politics can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between right and wrong, and any deal is possible. Hitler did not originally intend to dispose of R?hm, but under pressure from within and outside the party, he had to make a choice: either gain more people's support or keep his old comrade-in-arms, the notorious R?hm.

  The "Holy Land of Wesi" is Hitler's choice.

  ……

  Lebu arranged the barracks for his subordinates and came to the main training ground with doubts. He saw Xuyang still repeating the previous action, standing by curiously looking at him. He was puzzled, military steps were very simple for a soldier to learn, when Feng-Xike mentioned it before, he really couldn't understand why Strak's genius couldn't learn military steps?

  After observing for a while, Lebu found that Stak was studying very seriously, but always made mistakes at some special steps. For example, when swinging his right arm, the angle was too large, and when swinging down, the force was too strong, as if he wanted to chop a living person to death, with a strong killing intent. When lifting his foot, the distance from the ground was always 25 centimeters, like a marching machine, and his eyes were also full of murderous aura. Lebu quite appreciated the murderous aura in Xu Yang's eyes, this is what a qualified soldier should be!

  Xu Yang's eyes naturally had a murderous aura, he was scolded from 10 am and had been standing on the playground under the scorching sun until now, without even having lunch. Not to mention the anger in his heart, the assistant instructor kept nagging and mocking him, it was enough to make someone angry to death.

  "I'll tolerate this!" Xu Yang continuously roared in his heart, his killing intent spreading from inside out, expressed through his eyes.